MLB Player News

Greinke agreed Monday with the Royals on a one-year contract, Bob Fescoe of 610 Sports Kansas City reports.

The deal will pay him $8-to-10 million with the chance for more with performance incentives, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Greinke returns to the Royals after a 2022 season in which he went 4-9 with a 3.68 ERA and 73:27 K:BB over 137 innings in 26 starts. The 39-year-old right-hander will assuredly be a part of the Kansas City rotation, but his inability to miss bats at this stage of his career renders him little more than a risky streaming option for the 2023 campaign in the majority of fantasy formats.

Orioles GM Mike Elias said Sunday he expects Rodriguez to make the team's Opening Day starting rotation, Jim Bowden of The Athletic reports.

The 23-year-old was poised to make his big-league debut last summer before a Grade 2 lat strain resulted in a three-month absence, though he returned from the injured list to make six appearances in September. Rodriguez made 14 starts for Triple-A Norfolk in 2022 and had a 2.20 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 97:21 K:BB across 69.2 innings, and he should crack Baltimore's Opening Day rotation with a decent showing during spring training. The young right-hander's reduced workload last year likely means he'll face some workload limitations in 2023.

Maeda (elbow) will have no restrictions during spring training, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Maeda missed all of the 2022 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery he underwent in September of 2021. The right-hander struggled to a 4.66 ERA in 21 appearances before the injury that season, but he has been an effective option in previous seasons. He's someone to monitor in the Grapefruit League, as a return to prior form could pay dividends for fantasy managers in 2023.

Kaprielian (shoulder) is expected to be ready for the start of spring training, Athletics general manager David Forst told Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle on Friday.

The question on Kaprielian's status came in relation to the A's recent trade of Cole Irvin to the Orioles. That move was quite clearly a salary dump, but Oakland does have the depth to deliver a respectable Opening Day rotation if there are no setbacks on the health front. Kaprielian is said to be moving in the right direction in his recovery from offseason surgery to repair the AC joint in his throwing shoulder.

Irvin was traded from the A's to the Orioles on Thursday in exhange for minor leaguers Darell Hernaiz and Kyle Virbitsky, ESPN.com's Jeff Passan reports.

Irvin put together the best season of his career in 2022, working to an overall 3.98 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 30 starts covering 181 innings. He's never been a big strikeouts compiler, which stunts his fantasy appeal, but the 28-year-old lefty looks like a solid mid-to-upper rotation pickup for the O's as they aim to continue gaining ground in the AL East.

Springs signed a four-year, $31 million contract extension with the Rays on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The deal can max out at $65.75 million if Springs gets his club option picked up for 2027 and reaches all of the included performance-based incentives. The 30-year-old left-hander impressed his way into a full-time rotation spot in Tampa Bay last season, delivering a 2.46 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 144 strikeouts (31 walks) across 135.1 innings. With his projectable workload on the rise, Springs should have late-round appeal in all standard fantasy drafts leading into the 2023 campaign.

Clevinger is being investigated by MLB due to allegations of domestic violence and child abuse, Brittany Ghiroli and Katie Strang of The Athletic report.

The allegations include physical, verbal and emotional abuse toward the mother of Clevinger's 10-month-old daughter. The White Sox were reportedly unaware of the allegations when they signed Clevinger to a one-year, $12 million deal in November. Details regarding a potential suspension for the righty have not yet been announced.

Houck (back) is throwing off the mound, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Houck is working his way back from a lumbar discectomy that sidelined the right-hander at the end of last season. He's been the subject of trade rumors, but for now is being prepped to compete for a spot in the Red Sox rotation.

Whitlock (hip) has begun throwing off the mound, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Whitlock is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right hip. Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters that his recovery is on schedule, and the right-hander is expected to open the season as a member of the Boston rotation.

Sale (wrist) has begun throwing off the mound, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Sale broke his wrist in a bicycling accident in August, and he was limited to just two appearances in the 2022 season. The left-hander has dealt with injuries over the few years, but if healthy, still offers the potential to miss bats when on the mound.